Water and gas box for service-pipes.



T. P. FITZGERALD. WATER AND GAS BOX FOR SERVICE PIPES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1906.

911,485. I Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

W1 ZIVESSES:

[NVE/VTOR Attorney UNITE s'rnrnfs rnranr orrr on rn'oMAs r, FITZGERALD, or WASHINGTON, nrsraior OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR or 'rwo- THIRDS TO WILLIAM E. DE WITT AND ONE -THIRD TO INGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DANIEL J. RADY, BOTH OF WASH= WATER AND GAS BOX FOR SERVICE-PIPES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. FITZGER- ALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Imgrovements in Water and Gas Boxes for.

ervice-Pipes and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in water and gas boxes for service pipes, and the object of the invention is to produce a simple and eflicient device of this nature which is to be so arranged that the covers of the boxes may be securely held in place and so arranged that they will indicate when water is turned on to a building from a main, or closed.

The invention comprises various details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be herein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the.

cover indicating the water turned on to a building from a service main. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the cover indicating the water turned ofi from the building. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 is a sectional veiw on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a metallic boxing having threads A about the lower portion thereof and adapted to be connected to a service main, and to surround a valve connection located at the lower end of the boxes. Projecting from the inner surface of the u per portion of the box is an integral finger 1% which has a threaded aperture to receive the retaining screw D, the head of which rests upon the upper surface ofa countersunken portion of the cover, the shank of said screw passing through an aperture in said countersunken part of the cover.

F designates a cover having a flange F and a cylindrical shell portion F which is ada ted to telesco e within the upper end of the ox. Lugs K roject from the circumference of the cylindrical shell portion of the cover and are adapted to engage the recesses N which are formed longitudinally in the inner walls of the boxing, said recesses being clearly shown in the sectional view of the drawings. Said lugs K are of such size as to conveniently engage the recesses N and prevent the cover from being rotated when adjusted in place. In order to reinforce the upper portion of the box adjacent to the inner end of the cylindrical portion of the cover and therecessed part of the boxing, a rib or beading O is formed about the outer circumference of the boxing and cast integral therewith.

Referring to the top plan view, Fig. 1,

'will be seen an arrow R indicating the direction in which communication is had between the service and the main and indicating that the water is turned on and, in Fig. 2, is shown an arrow pointed at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 1 and indicating that communication is turned ofi from the branch leading from the street main.

Upon the cover preferably appears suit able wording indicating that the top to the box has been adjusted by the proper officials, and being so arranged that any tampering with the cover other than by the proper oflicials may be readily detected.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that by the provision of the apparatus shown and described, a simple and efficient means is afforded whereby the covers for water and gas boxes for service pipes may be securely held within the boxes, even though the retaining screw may be detached therefrom, making a secure fastening for the cover and so ar ranged that the valve, access to which is had through the boxing by means of a suitable key, may be turned on or off and so indicated by the manner of placing the cover upon the box, thus affording means whereby should the cover be changed by any unauthorized person seeking to tamper with the water main or valve connections therewith, it can be readily detected.

What I claim is A water and gas box apparatus for service mains comprising a metallic body portion provided with longitudinally formed slots in designed to rest upon the end of said body portion, a headed screw passing through the end of the closure and engaging a threaded aperture in said lug, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

the end wall thereof spaced apart, a heading about the outer circumference of said body portion adjacent to the inner end of said slots, an apertrned lug projecting from the 5 inner surface of said body portion opposite tie lovger POliiDiOIl of said beadi, ba dclosure l a apte to te escope Wit iin sai o y or- 1 a H tion and provided With lugs upon its circiirni THOEIAS 35 IYZG'ERALD' ference for engagement with said slots, said i Wit 10 lugs designed to rest upon the inner end J05. H BLACKWOOD Walls of said slots, the closure having a flange i A L EOUGIL 7 

